SUNDERLAND winger Lynden Gooch is absent from the matchday squad for their home tie against Bolton Wanderers with Alex Pritchard taking his place in the starting line-up. 

Gooch, 25, has featured in every League One game for the Black Cats this season and is expected to be ruled out through injury. 

Pritchard, who started in the midweek win over Wigan Athletic in the EFL Cup, will take his place at the Stadium of Light as part of a three man attacking midfield.

Manager Lee Johnson has reverted back to his tried and tested eleven for Sunderland's league matches. 

Tom Flanagan makes his return to the defence after serving a one match suspension while Bailey Wright dropping to the bench. 

STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): Thorben Hoffman; Carl Winchester, Callum Doyle, Tom Flanagan, Dennis Cirkin; Luke O'Nien, Dan Neil; Aiden McGeady; Alex Pritchard, Elliot Embleton; Ross Stewart

SUBS: Lee Burge, Niall Huggins, Cory Evans, Frederik Alves, Leon Dajaku, Nathan Broadhead, Bailey Wright